NewsThe two storytelling evenings during the Conference promise to be exciting and highly entertaining. The organisers are pleased to announce that: Autralian indigenous storyteller to perform at Unisa
Francis Firebrace, of the Yorta Yorta people, has been yarning (telling stories) "since he can't remember when." Audiences from all around the world, both young and old alike, have delighted in his dreaming stories in his exciting, entertaining and enlightening performances at schools, functions, festivals and theatres across several continents. The dreaming stories he tells, some of which he learnt when he was a drover and a stockman during his younger years in outback New South Wales and Queensland, contain important messages about caring for each other and the earth, and about racism and greed. He aims to bridge the gaps separating people by generating a greater understanding of his cultural heritage and the lessons this contains. Other storytellers who will perform during the Festival are South Africa’s own Gcina Mhlophe, Denes Asad from Palestine, Babila Mutia of Cameroon and Dieynaba Gueye of Senegal. The Festival will take place during the evenings of 6 and 7 October. See information link below. The Conference will start with a series of workshops on Wednesday 6 October on topics such as “Telling the Story of Your Name: Teachers as Readers and Writers”, presented by lecturers from the USA, Botswana and Kenya; and workshops on the making of books and telling of stories; unleashing of creative potential; classroom initiatives to install a love for reading and what South African English books can be read with Senior Phase additional language learners. Papers will be presented by delegates from Belgium; Russia; USA; Kenya; Ghana, etc. For further background information about the Conference and Festival click here. For more information contact: Denes Asad, Palestinian storyteller and researcher, Haifa has taken part in many storytelling festivals and conferences all over the Mediterranean as well as in several European countries. She will also perform in the Storytelling Festival on the evening of 7 October 2010. Read more ... (PDF) Gcina Mhlope, South Africa's most well-known storyteller will perform on Wednesday evening, 6 October 2010. Read more (PDF) about her in the abstract.
 In July 2006 Gcina represented South Africa at the Soccer World Cup in Germany, the highlight of her performances being the official revealing of the 2010 World Cup Emblem for South Africa. The performance was broadcasted live around the world to more than a billion viewers! In 2009 Gcina created a new Workshop Theatre production with Greenlandic performers in NUUK, Greenland, to be performed at the Olymic Winter Games in Vancouver in March 2010. Her NOZINCWADI Mother of Books Literacy Campaign, started in 2001, is still alive and touching thousands of children in hundreds of schools around South Africa. Gcina travels to perform storytelling in mostly rural schools and bringing books to set up school libraries and promote literacy. Gcina published several books and writing and Storytelling continue to be the main focus of her creative energies. She lives in Durban with her husband and their daughter Nomakhwezi, the morning star. |
Conference: Reading Promotion and Storytelling for children 2010
The internationally renowned Australian indigenous storyteller, Francis Firebrace, will perform during the 2nd Unisa Conference on Reading Promotion and Storytelling Festival that will take place from 6-8 October 2010 at the Main Campus of Unisa in Pretoria. Mr Firebrace will be accompanied by accomplished didjeridu player, Nick Burman. 